Mission to asteroid 9969 Braille, comet Borrelly

Deep Space 1

ABOUT THE MISSION

Originally designed to test a dozen new technologies including the use of an ion engine for spacecraft propulsion, Deep Space 1 far outstripped its primary mission goals by also successfully flying by the asteroid 9969 Braille and comet Borelly. The flybys produced what are still considered some of the best images and data ever collected from an up-close encounter with an asteroid or comet.

The success of Deep Space 1 set the stage for future ion-propelled spacecraft missions, especially those making the technically difficult journey to asteroids or comets, such as NASA's Dawn mission.

Mission Events

July 29, 1999: Having completed its technology testing within the first couple months after launch, Deep Space 1 makes a bonus flyby of the asteroid 9969 Braille, flying within about 17 miles (27 kilometers) of the object.

November 1999: While embarking on a new journey to comet Borrelly, the spacecraft's star tracker used for determining its orientation in the zero gravity of space fails, nearly ending Deep Space 1's extended mission.

June 2000: Engineers develop a new way to operate the Deep Space 1 spacecraft after the potentially mission-ending failure of its star tracker. Software is radioed to the probe using the camera on board to serve as a replacement navigational tool. The operation marks one of the most successful robotic space rescues in the history of space exploration.

September 2001: Deep Space 1 approaches comet Borrelly, using two of its advanced science instruments to collect important data on the comet's environment and its icy, rocky nucleus. Despite the challenges faced by the spacecraft, it's able to snap some of the best up-close pictures of a comet to-date.

Key Discoveries

Deep Space 1 was the first spacecraft to use an ion engine. Its successful missions to asteroid 9969 Braille and comet Borrelly using the revolutionary technology heralded a new age of ion-propelled spacecraft, such as NASA's Dawn, built for tricky flights to elusive space objects like comets and asteroids.